When Gilroy’s varsity boys soccer team shocked the entire
Central Coast Section last year, beating Bellarmine 2-0 in the
championship, no one quite knew what to think.
GILROY
When Gilroy’s varsity boys soccer team shocked the entire Central Coast Section last year, beating Bellarmine 2-0 in the championship, no one quite knew what to think.
This year, you can bet one thought will be running through every opponent’s mind: Beat Gilroy, earn respect.
“We should have a good team,” said GHS Co-Head Coach Brian Hall, who was recently named Major League Soccer’s Referee of the Year for the third year in a row and fourth time overall. “To be honest, our biggest issue is not effort but maturity level. Are these guys going to be able to step it up, game in and game out. Because now, when you’re the defending champions, we have a bull’s-eye on our back, our chest, our fannies, our foreheads …”
Luckily for the Mustangs, the team returns eight starters that have big game experience from a year ago. Winning a Tri-County Athletic League title by going undefeated in 12 league contests (8-0-4) prepared the team for four more grueling games in the postseason.
“When we beat Bellarmine in the CCS final, we kind of beat them at their own game,” Hall said. “We beat them on two head-ball goals. No one, basically, gave us a shot. But our style is to play the ball, play some technical soccer. Another one of our strengths is our fitness level. Our fitness level is pretty gosh darn good.”
The Mustangs return a back line that surrendered just .5 goals per game a season ago, and are led by sweeper Kevin Grove – last year’s TCAL defender of the year.
“He’s pretty much our anchor back there,” GHS Co-Head Coach Armando Padilla said. “Last year we led the section in goals allowed and he was a big part of that.”
Senior Eric Miller also played a big role in the defense’s stinginess, and will look to help relieve pressure on new goal keeper Alberto Reyes.
“I think our goal keeper Alberto Reyes, I think he’ll surprise a lot of people,” Hall said.
In the middle, Gilroy can continue to expect big things from midfielder Randy Moya and winger Bruce Ocana.
A year ago Ocana, named CCS Sophomore of the Year last season by the San Jose Mercury News, was second on the team with 10 goals.
But in addition to losing goalie Jairo Avalos-Rodriguez, two Mustangs who will be hard to replace are leading scorers Jose Velasquez – last year’s Gilroy Dispatch Athlete of the Year – and Humberto Pineda. Both were first team All-CCS performers as seniors.
Being thrown directly into the fire are freshmen forwards Daniel Amaro and Jorge Sanchez. The two will hold down the front line as senior Edgar Hernandez waits for CCS clearance. A transfer from Mexico, Hernandez needs paperwork to be processed.
“[Hernandez] is kind of a mainstay on our front line because of his hustle, his quiet leadership and his technical ability,” Hall said. “He’s fantastic.”
The coach added that last year’s season was an excellent experience for all involved, and a main factor for the success was the chemistry between players and coaches.
“We play together, and I think one of our strengths is we’re like a big family,” Hall said. “All the kids really enjoy each other. The practices are really intense. Our practices are harder than some games.”
Note:Gilroy won its home opener in the first game of the Homestead Cup Tuesday, downing Soquel 2-1 at Garcia-Elder Sports Complex.
GHS sophomore midfielder Josh Gonzalez was assisted by Bruce O’Connor in the 11th minute, heading in a cross from Bruce Ocana on a short corner.
Soquel answered back ten minutes later on a counter attack to tie the game.
Randy Moya provided the deciding goal in the 62nd minute when Carlos Cortez sent a cross that Moya directed into the right side of the net.
“It was nice to see our freshman and new kids on the block, play a sound game,” GHS Co-Head Coach Armando Padilla said. “It’s kind of cool. Things that we work on in practice, crossing and heading, are working.”
The Mustangs next match will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, when the team plays host to Monte Vista in the second game of pool play of the Homestead Cup.
